| Title: 10 facts on culture shock
Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 @ 9:28 PM |
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over the month in Oulu, I have collected a list of things that are done differently here in Oulu/Finland/Europe relative to my sunny hometown, Singapore.
01 Finnish culture despises people who are late.
For instance, "Meet at the function room at 0900"
what it means in Singapore: "Let's arrive at 0915, the event would probably start at 0930"
what it means in Finland: "Omg we have to arrive at 0850, the event would start at 0900 SHARP, even walking in at 0901 would earn you weird stares"
02 Weather is considered good when...
In Singapore: about 25 Degrees Celsius
In Finland: below -10 Degrees Celsius (you might even want to do a celebratory dance when that happens)
03 Opinions about the sun
Singapore: "argh why is it so hot today, let's find a place with air conditioning"
Finland: "OMG YAY!! IT IS SUNNY TODAY!! LETS GO STAND IN THE SUN AND TAKE MANY PRETTY PICTURES!"
04 On dressing up
Singapore: grab a cute dress or some sleeveless top and pretty shorts, slip into sandals and put on some makeup and you will be out of the house in 15min
Finland: "lemme check the weather today... hmmmmm -26, alright, i think i need 2 leggings underneath that jeans, and a thermal top and a fleece jacket to cover that top.... dont forget the beanie and scarf and the down jacket...and 2 pairs of socks and that snow boots!" (time taken: approx. 30min with makeup)
05 On food
Singapore: "LETS HAVE JAP FOOD TODAY!! no maybe not... how about KOREAN BBQ? had that last week... how about Thai food? hmmmm a lil spicy, not feeling so well... how about Xiao long bao? ohoh! or Nasi Padang?? hmmmmmmm why dont we just head to the hawker centre and we can choose whatever we like?"
Finland: "let's see... do you want pizza or kebab or pasta?"
06 On nightlife or in fact anything after 6pm
Singapore: "Let's go sing kbox or watch a movie? How about some supper at geyland? i'll drive! we can go chill at marina barrage too, picnic or kite flying? how about some shopping? or let's go night cycling? or do you want to go clubbing? or chill out at timbre?"
Finland: "oh all the shops are closed, lets see what's there to do besides partying.... that's right, more partying.... let's head to the pub or a party or a club"
07 On public holidays
Singapore: "OMG SO MANY PEOPLE, i can hardly breathe, rah, wish i was home instead of Orchard road"
Finland: *ghost town*
08 On weekends
Singapore: "YAY IM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WEEKENDS!! FINALLY A BREAK FROM SCHOOL"
Finland: "omg i hate weekends, shops open so late and close so early!! there's nothing to do"
09 On normal drinks
Singapore: "let's see, can i have iced lemon tea? or many green tea... no wait, maybe peach tea?"
Finland: "Coke, please"
10 On swimming
Singapore: Change, rushes downstairs, *scans EZLINK card* "80cents deducted"
Finland: *checks bus schedule*, *30min to get dressed*, *pays 2 euros for a bus trip*, *pays 2.50 euros for entrance*, *pays another 2 euros to go home* WTF SO EX!! OMGGGG more than 10times the price i pay in singapore just to go swimming :/ (but i did it anyway) (by swimming i meant indoor swimming, not ice swimming :P)
For instance, "Meet at the function room at 0900"
what it means in Singapore: "Let's arrive at 0915, the event would probably start at 0930"
what it means in Finland: "Omg we have to arrive at 0850, the event would start at 0900 SHARP, even walking in at 0901 would earn you weird stares"
02 Weather is considered good when...
In Singapore: about 25 Degrees Celsius
In Finland: below -10 Degrees Celsius (you might even want to do a celebratory dance when that happens)
03 Opinions about the sun
Singapore: "argh why is it so hot today, let's find a place with air conditioning"
Finland: "OMG YAY!! IT IS SUNNY TODAY!! LETS GO STAND IN THE SUN AND TAKE MANY PRETTY PICTURES!"
04 On dressing up
Singapore: grab a cute dress or some sleeveless top and pretty shorts, slip into sandals and put on some makeup and you will be out of the house in 15min
Finland: "lemme check the weather today... hmmmmm -26, alright, i think i need 2 leggings underneath that jeans, and a thermal top and a fleece jacket to cover that top.... dont forget the beanie and scarf and the down jacket...and 2 pairs of socks and that snow boots!" (time taken: approx. 30min with makeup)
05 On food
Singapore: "LETS HAVE JAP FOOD TODAY!! no maybe not... how about KOREAN BBQ? had that last week... how about Thai food? hmmmm a lil spicy, not feeling so well... how about Xiao long bao? ohoh! or Nasi Padang?? hmmmmmmm why dont we just head to the hawker centre and we can choose whatever we like?"
Finland: "let's see... do you want pizza or kebab or pasta?"
06 On nightlife or in fact anything after 6pm
Singapore: "Let's go sing kbox or watch a movie? How about some supper at geyland? i'll drive! we can go chill at marina barrage too, picnic or kite flying? how about some shopping? or let's go night cycling? or do you want to go clubbing? or chill out at timbre?"
Finland: "oh all the shops are closed, lets see what's there to do besides partying.... that's right, more partying.... let's head to the pub or a party or a club"
07 On public holidays
Singapore: "OMG SO MANY PEOPLE, i can hardly breathe, rah, wish i was home instead of Orchard road"
Finland: *ghost town*
08 On weekends
Singapore: "YAY IM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WEEKENDS!! FINALLY A BREAK FROM SCHOOL"
Finland: "omg i hate weekends, shops open so late and close so early!! there's nothing to do"
09 On normal drinks
Singapore: "let's see, can i have iced lemon tea? or many green tea... no wait, maybe peach tea?"
Finland: "Coke, please"
10 On swimming
Singapore: Change, rushes downstairs, *scans EZLINK card* "80cents deducted"
Finland: *checks bus schedule*, *30min to get dressed*, *pays 2 euros for a bus trip*, *pays 2.50 euros for entrance*, *pays another 2 euros to go home* WTF SO EX!! OMGGGG more than 10times the price i pay in singapore just to go swimming :/ (but i did it anyway) (by swimming i meant indoor swimming, not ice swimming :P)
Labels: Finland, Oulu (Finland)
